Just then, Bijou pounced onto the mound and started digging furiously, sending the arrangement of roses scattering.
“Bijou, no!” Bridget scolded.
But the enthusiastic terrier just buried his face in the dirt; when he lifted his head he shook it as if he’d caught something. He growled fiercely and wagged his tail with excitement.
“What is it? What do you have?”
Bijou gave the object another shake, freeing it from the ground. Then he proudly revealed his prize to Bridget—a black lace handkerchief.
“Where did that come from?” Bridget took the handkerchief out of Bijou’s mouth.It must belong to Aunt Marianne, but how did it come to be buried in the ground?She peered at the hole Bijou had dug, took off her gloves, and started to push the earth he’d removed back over it. But something inside her made her stop.
She had a sudden urge to retrieve the little box in which her father’s lock of hair was secured. She wanted to gaze upon the lock of hair once more, to touch it, smell it. She reached down for the box, but it was no longer there.
Bridget started digging furiously. Watching her, Bijou yapped and pounced on the grave to help, digging by his mistress’s side. The hole they made grew, but the box never materialized. Bridget stared at the gaping space in the earth and creased her brows.Someone has taken it.
*
Bridget got toher feet and wiped the dirt from her dress. Then she retrieved her gloves and started toward the villa, followed by Bijou. Had Aunt Marianne taken the box containing Papa’s hair? She couldn’t think why her aunt would do such a thing. But if not her, then who? The only other people who knew about Papa’s little grave were the gardener and the servants.
Just then, Bridget heard Nate’s voice—he was angry. She looked up to see him standing with Lady Luxton a few feet away and froze. Sensing the anger emanating from the two people, Bijou cowered at her feet.
“Was it because of Frederick? Is that why you did it?”
“Did what, Nathaniel? You sound like a lunatic raving about nonsense.”
“You know what I’m talking about. You killed those two women! First, you pushed Madam Bouffant down the stairs after you caught her coming out of Frederick’s bedroom and then you murdered the housemaid because he was sleeping with her too.”
“Now I see that you reallyarea raving lunatic. Why should I care if Frederick whores himself out to an actress and a housemaid?”
“Because you like to be the center of every man’s world—mine, Frederick’s, my brother’s!”
Lady Luxton’s mouth clamped shut.
“So, it’s true,” Nate said, his voice clipped.
“He forced me. He was determined that we should not be married.”
“Are you saying my brother forced himself on you?” Nate growled.
“Not in that way. He…well,convincedme. He’s a powerful man.”
Nate threw back his head and laughed. “You’re ridiculous, trying to convince me that my brother seduced you. Edward is a block of ice; he couldn’t seduce a harpy.” He shook his head. “To think I let you manipulate me using that child. Yourson, for God’s sake!”
“He’s your son too!”
“I’ll never know, will I? His mother is so untrustworthy that he could be anyone’s child—Lord, he might belong to the butler or the gardener!”
Lady Luxton’s face flushed red. “How dare you!” she said, swiping her nails across Nate’s cheek.
Bridget gasped, but the pair didn’t notice her. They were too absorbed in their anger and pain.
“I’ll make sure you never see Henry again!” Lady Luxton spat the words. “Never!”
Bridget could see Nate’s body sag, and her heart ached for him.
“You truly are evil, Helen,” he said. “I don’t know how I could have stayed blind for so long. I think you are capable of hurting anyone who gets in your way, and that includes Madam Bouffant and Abigail.”
Lady Luxton laughed. “A whore and a maidservant are no threat to me. Now, why don’t you go back to playing magistrate with the orphan you are so fond of? I am going to gather my husband andmyson and leave this place. And I dare you to try and stop me!” Lady Luxton strode back toward the villa.
